there are still many good names out there in the free-agency.sure some guys are older,but that dosent stop BB from signing them.which guy out there would help the team,and the young guys?to me the lunch pail guys like Big willie,or Derrick Brooks,and Jason taylor are the best molds.they work hard,and give 100-percent in practice,and on the feild.what better group of guys to teach the pats young players at the LB spot.

i liked colvin too, but he is beyond finished and i think there is no chance he plays again. besides he's not an ILB. i think that if there is a veteran released before the season that bill has some familiarity with he might sign him, but not anybody thats out there now. i think if nobody good becomes available then tank williams joins the ILB rotation and we just hope guyton takes a big step in year two (which i believe he will).

i liked colvin too, but he is beyond finished and i think there is no chance he plays again. besides he's not an ILB. i think that if there is a veteran released before the season that bill has some familiarity with he might sign him, but not anybody thats out there now. i think if nobody good becomes available then tank williams joins the ILB rotation and we just hope guyton takes a big step in year two (which i believe he will). Posted by artielang

its not the inside we need.if anything AD- thomas can slide to the ILB spot if needed.its the insurance at the OLB we need.

i thought this thread was about replacing mckenzie in the ILB rotation. the OLB pass rusher situation is well documented and has been discussed over and over on here. this does create a huge opportunity for appleby though. hopefully he can follow in guyton's footsteps and be a nice surprise as an undrafted rookie.

So moving the only established OLB inside makes that problem better how?Posted by zbellino

Z if Thomas moves inside, Woods/Crable/Banta Cain are adequate at OLB. But if Thomas stays outside, are Bruschi and Guyton adequate at ILB? A few years ago we had to move Vrabel inside and put TBC outside and we did ok - held the Chargers to 21 points in the divisional round, and they had a supercharged offense.

Do all you guys live in your parent's basement and have Pamela Anderson posters everywhere? Why are you always fantasizing about 'other players'? Hasn't Bill B. earned any respect? If he is comfortable with our other young LB's in addition to Mayo, then let's "play the cards that are dealt". I remember all the Sox posters being consumed for years with replacing Youk because they saw him strictly as a platoon player. And now he is the best hitter in the AL. Guys do develop you know. Chill out and be a fan instead of an obsessed fantasy expert.If Guyton and Crable and Woods and Redd don't look like they are making the jump in training camp, I am sure the Pats will work the wire and get someone solid. No need to get your panties in a bunch.

So moving the only established OLB inside makes that problem better how?Posted by zbellino

he is getting slower,but still solid,and putting some talented quicker players on the outside.you have a set-up for a nice pass rush,but if the players are not experiance enough,or good enough.then you need solid veterans just to keep the defense honest.

If I were BB which I'm not and which is probably a good thing, I would pick up Rosie Colvin, if for nothing more than a stop gap, to last a little while, while everyone else develops more. Crable has played in Zero actually NFL games, now don't get me wrong I like the kid, but he doesn't have experiance, and TBC, just no, he can rush the passer but I dont like him as an every down player. Redd, has the same problem as Crable, and i like him just as much. So in closing don't count anything out, its BB after all.

I still think this is the guy. He's a younger Tedy B. Perfect for the ILB position. My only concern is his size. He could be a little bigger.

ST. LOUIS (AP) - The St. Louis Rams have released veteran linebacker Pisa Tinoisamoa, the team's leading tackler last season.

Coach Steve Spagnuolo made the surprise announcement in a statement released on Friday, calling it a "difficult decision based on a lot of factors." He did not elaborate and the Rams did not return messages seeking comment.

Tinoisamoa is a six-year veteran who led the team with 135 tackles in 2008. He was a second-round draft choice, the 43rd overall selection in the 2002 draft. That season, he had 121 tackles to lead the team.